Pause for a Poem

The Expert View Podcast Heritage Centre Special: Episode 14 - Pause for a Poem

In this special episode of The Expert View, Harriet Wheelock, Keeper of Collections at the RCPI Heritage Centre talks about the Pause for a Poem initiative. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic this online project saw doctors, healthcare professionals, academics and staff of RCPI read a piece of poetry that encouraged people to pause and take a moment of calm within their day. In all, 50 poems were included in the project including old favourites and new, original works.

Harriet speaks with Dr Elizabeth Barrett, consultant in child psychiatry at the Children's University Hospital and creator of the Mindreading conference who partnered with RCPI on the project. She also speaks with Prof Chris Fitzpatrick, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and one of the poets included in the project, and Professor Gaye Cunnane, RCPI Director of Health and Wellbeing who discusses the benefits of taking a moment to pause.

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Selection of Poems from Pause for a Poem

1. Mindreading & Pause for a Poem – Introduction by Dr Elizabeth Barrett [(opens in a new window)link]
2. On Returning to the Frontline – Prof Mary Horgan and Prof Chris Fitzpatrick [(opens in a new window)link]
3. Hope by Emily Dickinson – Dr Melissa Dickson [(opens in a new window)link]
4. Covid Spider – Patsy Brady [(opens in a new window)link]
5. Clinical Indications and Plantar Faciitus by Martina Evans – Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan [(opens in a new window)link]
6. A Frisky Lamb by Christina Rossetti – Prof Sally Shuttleworth [(opens in a new window)link]
7. Untitled by Kieran Moore – Dr Kieran Moore [(opens in a new window)link]
8. On a tree fallen across the road by Robert Lee Frost – Dr Margo Ryan [(opens in a new window)link]
9. Spring by DB Twohigk - Dr Aoife Twohig [(opens in a new window)link]
10. Hope in the time of Corona by Gaye Cunnane – Prof Gaye Cunnane [(opens in a new window)link]
11. The Choice by W B Yeats - Dr Michael Riordan [(opens in a new window)link]
12. The Heron by Barry Kennerk – Dr Barry Kennerk [(opens in a new window)link]
13. It's like when they turn on the floodlights only it's very different by Chris Fitzpatrick – Prof Chris Fitzpatrick [(opens in a new window)link]
14. The fiddler of Dooney by W B Yeats - Marie Brady [(opens in a new window)link]
15. A Shropshire Lad XL by A E Housman - Harriet Wheelock [(opens in a new window)link]
16. We must create by Stephen James Smith – Dr Josen McGrane [(opens in a new window)link]
17. Early Days by Sarah Murphy – Mairead Heffron [(opens in a new window)link]
18. Old friends meet in Connemara by George Spaeth – Dr George Spaeth [(opens in a new window)link]